New York City Workers Stand with the Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Communities:
Our Grief Is Not an Excuse for Racism, Islamophobia, Bigotry or WarNew York City Labor Against the War, September 2, 2010

As
New York City workers and trade unionists, we deplore the attacks on
Park51, desecration of mosques, violence and all other forms of racism,
Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry.

It is no accident that this hate campaign is taking place in the midst of deepening economic crisis.

In
the 1930s, the Nazis scapegoated Jews, Roma people, gays and others to
deflect workers' attention from the banks and corporations responsible
for the Great Depression. Ultimately, failure to oppose these policies
led to destruction of unions, elimination of all other opposition, and
horrific consequences for the entire world.

Today, Newt Gingrich, Sara Palin, and the "Tea Party" similarly
scapegoat Arabs, Muslims, immigrants and people of color in order to
deflect workers' fear and anger about record unemployment,
foreclosures, homelessness, credit debt, police violence, and attacks
on organized labor.

Although pretending to speak for workers, the Tea Party's corporate
puppets oppose our right to organize, collectively bargain or strike.

They
attack Social Security, unemployment benefits, health care, workplace
safety and environmental protections. They have even blocked
compensation for Ground Zero first responders.

Workers, abroad and at home, have long paid the price for these
disastrous policies. On 9/11, we suffered blowback from decades of
U.S./Israeli war, occupation and colonialism.

9/11, in turn, has
been the pretext for an endless bipartisan war of terror. This war has
devastated Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Lebanon, Somalia,
Yemen and other countries.

It has left thousands of G.I.s dead or maimed. It has tortured
prisoners and undermined civil liberties. It has squandered trillions
of dollars.

Now it targets Iran.

For these reasons, it
is essential for trade unionists and all workers to stand up in defense
of the Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities.

Moreover, to eliminate the conditions that breed racism and
Islamophobia, we ask New Yorkers to join us in building an ongoing
workers' movement to fight for jobs, housing, schools, national health
care, labor and immigrant rights, racial justice, clean environment,
and an end to U.S. wars of conquest.

The time to act is now.

Initial Signers(List in formation -- *For identification only)

Larry Adams, Former President, NPMHU L. 300*; Co-Convener, New York City Labor Against the War

Michael Letwin, Former President, ALAA/UAW L. 2325*; Co-Convener,
New York City Labor Against the War; Labor for Palestine, Al-Awda NY;
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network-Labor

Brenda Stokely,
Former President, AFSCME DC 1707*; Co-Convener, New York City Labor
Against the War; Co-Chair, Million Worker March Movement